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Mikhail Baryshnikov on hand as John Fraser retires from Massey College

Fraser played a pivotal role in helped the legendary dancer defect from the Soviet Union, after a performance at Toronto’s O’Keefe Centre.

John Fraser, left, who is retiring as master of Massey College, is joined by world renowned ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and former MP and lawyer Jim Peterson at Fraser's farewell dinner on Thursday evening. Fraser played a key role in Baryshnikov's defection in 1974. (Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

There was one particularly special guest on hand when eminent journalist and author John Fraser was honoured for his stewardship as master of the University of Toronto’s
Massey College
after the past 19 years.

Mikhail Baryshnikov attended the dinner Thursday night to honour Fraser, who played a key role in orchestrating the legendary dancer’s defection from the former Soviet Union in 1974, as did lawyer Jim Peterson.

“Oh, how could I not come? John Fraser and Jim Peterson are two of my best friends,” Baryshnikov said.

Fraser, who turned 70 on Thursday, remains a highly respected figure in the world of Canadian journalism, as a multi-award winning reporter, columnist and editor. He officially retires on June 30.

A former columnist at the Toronto Star and the National Post, Fraser’s work has also appeared in host of major international publications, including the New York Times, Time, Paris Match and the Far Eastern Economic Review. He also served as editor of now-defunct Saturday Night Magazine, during which he boosted circulation substantially.

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But it was during Fraser’s tenure as the Globe and Mail’s dance critic that he became a player in a cat-and-mouse game of international intrigue.

On June 24, 1974, Fraser was filing a review of a performance by Soviet dancers, including Baryshnikov, at Toronto’s O’Keefe Centre — now known as the
Sony Centre
— when he received an urgent call from Trish Barnes, wife of late New York Times critic Clive Barnes.

Fraser was able to deliver a coded message and telephone number to Baryshnikov at a post-performance reception, escaping the careful attention of Baryshnikov’s Soviet watchers. Among the problem the two men faced, Fraser didn’t speak Russian and Baryshnikov didn’t speak English so they were forced to communicate in French.

The July 1, 1974 front page of the Toronto Star reported the defection of renowned Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov two days earlier. With the help of friends, he escaped out the back door of the former O'Keefe Centre after a final performance, evading his Soviet handlers. (Star Archives)

Under Fraser’s tenure, Massey College, an independent graduate residence affiliated with U of T, has undertaken a $3.5-million renovation of its Robertson Davies Library and substantially increased its endowment fund.

With files from Martin Knelman

Correction - June 6, 2014:
This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said John Fraser turned 71.

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